The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-04-28
SAN JACINTO.
Anniversary of the Baltic That Freed
Texas from Mexico
(From tho Philadelphia Times }

Anniversary of the Baltic That Freed
Texas from Mexico.
From the Philadelphia Times)
There occurs this week tho anpiyersa.
ry of one of the most interesting md
eventful battles in American history.
though one but little remembered. II
Is an anniversary that recalls tho strllp-
Glo OF races OF which the Southern Dor
tion OF this continent was the scene from
the days OF Christopher Columbus, down
TO ou| own time. Spanish settlements
We're mado III Texas as early rs 1892,
thcSe, however, were merely trading es-
tabll6hments. Texas was formerly
claimed by both Spain and tic United
States, and became tho subject of long
negotiation, between the two govern
mcnts which resulted in relinquish-
ment on the part of tho United States to
the territory Ill question. President
Jackson made an attempt to purchase
Texas from Mexico, but failed. The
proposition Of Jackson to purchase was
opposed by many Of our citizens, who
viewed further extension of torritorv
as dangerous to tho integrity of the
Union. Texas had rather been q curse
than blessing to any of it's numerous
claimants, being first wrested from the
n4tlves by Spain, and regained by the
MeXicans.
In the year 1921 Stephen f. Austin. n
native OF the State of Connecticut, ap-
pearcd on Brazos river in Texas to fulfill
and out u contract Of his father. who
had obtained grant for large body of
land which he was to colonizc. MIR,
AUSTIN planted his first colony on the
l5razoS river, and being man of un-
| common ildehty and enterprise, his in
tercoUrse with the Mexican government
pelng marked with rigid compliance
With his engagement, for q number of
years he had the unlimited confidence
OF the officers OF the government, from
whom he could receive any favors, and
III return received the unlimited conf
dence OF his colonistS, and Texas was
last becoming II valuable domain. The
colonlsts, with the intelligence, energy
ana thrift so characteristic of their race,
were making rapid advances in wealth
and comfort, but q crisis arrived, and
war with all its fury and horrors COM
mcnccd.
San Antonio and Golaid were in the
possession Of tho Texan troops, and n
large NleNican force had been ordered to
operate against them. On the 21st of
February, 1886, the Mexican Generals
oesSma, Ellasola and Cos wore ordered
to head one division Of the Mexican
army on San Antonio, Generals Unca
and GarOry q second division against
Golald, and third division, command
ed by Santa Anna in person, was to
move as circumstances might require.
4hc lrst division of the Mexican army
appeared before San Antonio on the
Ind OF February, and OF the progress
OF the slego OF the Alamo Colonel
lraNors' last letter was on the 3d of
March. lie says: 'I am bcsicged by
thousands of MeXicans and with 40 men
haVc defended the Alamo for ten days
against force of 5000, and unless 1 get
rclIef l will perish i'll it's defense. "
Colonel 1ravcrs and his gallant band did
perish, as they fell to man. Their
ilVes, however were dearly sold and the
victory gained over them was little bet
ter than defeat.
THE san JAClNTO.
Santa Anna, flushed with his i'll gotten
success, believed that Texas was in his
grasp, and with his remaining force ad-
Vanced upon llOustOn's small force on
the Colorado river. Houston fell back
to the BrazoS river and from that stream
rctrcatcd to the San Jacinto river. He
was unwilling to hazard battle so long
as hopes were entertained of gaining any
advantage by rchcating Ho intended
rctrcating to Nacodochcs, where hc
knew OF rciDtOrccmcnts, and it was not
until after loud complaints from every
quarter he 6" ided to stake his reputa-
ton and the fortunes Of Texas on ono
decisive effort.
lie was commanding q most determ
lnCd set Of men who yearned to retaliate
for the shameful butchery of their
friends at the Alamo and Golaid. An
hour before sunset on the Dist Of April,
1896, Houston, with 7S3 men all told,
attacked Santa Anna with 900 men,
advancing with the war cry, "Rcmembcr
the Alamo" The Texans advanced re-
cciving the McXicans' fire to within
point blank shot before they fired gun.
In less than two hours q vanQushcd foe
lay bleeding on the battle PLAIN. A few
unSkIllCd men were VictOrs over nearly
double their number of well skilled sol
dlcrS, who were surfcitcd with treasure
and human blood, and their proud and
naughty chlct prisoner, begging for
quarter and mercy, both of which were
foreign to his own heart and his own
! mode OF warfare. Santa Anna, the cap.
turcd, was a hcartlcss demon. The
world, III all its round Of brutality, had
no other sight so bloody and brutal as
the slaughter of Colonel Fannin's band
ut Golad. Some faint excuse might be
given for the savagery at Alamo while
the blood was hot, but the savagory at
Goiad has all the horrors of cold, calcu-
latlng, pitilCss butchGry.
RESULTS or TIE VICTORY.
The victory at San Jacinto is truly
one OF the most splendid Of modern or
ancient timcs and well deserves to be
ranked among the decisive battles of the
world. Its results arc wonderful. 1t
established the independence ot Texas;
the establishing of it into a republic; the
annexation OF it into the American
union; war with Mexico, the consc-
qucnco of which was tho acquisition of
New Mexico, California, Utah, Nevada,